Chief Executive Chui Sai On said Thursday that the government had started an administrative inquiry to probe two senior officials of the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau (IACM) for their alleged involvement in a case of misfeasance.

Chui said that he had formally received a notice from the Public Prosecution Office (MP) and the Examining Magistracy stating that the president and a vice-president of the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau (IACM) will have to stand trial in the Court of First Instance (TJB) for alleged misfeasance.

According to a statement released by the Public Prosecution early Thursday, four IACM staff members – President Raymond Tam Vai Man, Vice President Lei Fong Wai, Licensing and environmental Hygiene Department Chief, Fong Wai Seng and civil servant Sic Kuok Kun – have been arraigned by the Examining Magistracy for allegedly delaying the release of documents to the Public Prosecution Office (MP) in 2010 about the granting of 10 burial plots, because of which they will have to stand trial in the Court of First Instance (TJB).

According to the statement the four suspects allegedly breached administrative regulations, thereby committing the crime of misfeasance, according to Article 333 o the Macau Penal Code.

According to the Public Prosecution´s statement, Tam told Lei, Fong and Sio to delay furnishing the Public Prosecution with the documents.

The city´s cemeteries are managed by the IACAM.

The statement also said that the suspects had perverted the course of justice and damaged public interest through their “co-ordinated” action, pointing out that any one found guilty of misfeasance would face a prison term of up to 5 years.

According to The Macau Post Daily both Tam and Lei protested their innocence. (macaunews)